Play Therapy in San Diego, CA
With children, I use play therapy to process emotions and build attachment.
You are not broken. You are becoming.
The past shapes how we love, grieve, and understand ourselves. If you’ve ever felt caught between expectations, navigating belonging, or carrying unspoken emotions, you are not alone.
As a second-generation Asian American, I know our stories are layered—woven with resilience, love, and sacrifice. Culture and family can be sources of strength, yet they may also shape how we connect, protect, and express ourselves. Healing isn’t about letting go of where you come from; it’s about honoring your experiences, understanding their impact, and allowing yourself to grow into who you truly are.
With children, I use play therapy to process emotions and build attachment.
You are not broken. You are becoming.
The past shapes how we love, grieve, and understand ourselves. If you’ve ever felt caught between expectations, navigating belonging, or carrying unspoken emotions, you are not alone.
As a second-generation Asian American, I know our stories are layered—woven with resilience, love, and sacrifice. Culture and family can be sources of strength, yet they may also shape how we connect, protect, and express ourselves. Healing isn’t about letting go of where you come from; it’s about honoring your experiences, understanding their impact, and allowing yourself to grow into who you truly are.
I also utilize Gestalt Play Therapy with children and elements of the Gottman Method with couples.
Growing up within a traditional Mexican immigrant family and being a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have experience with how traditional and contemporary cultural norms can clash and wrongfully lead us to believe that we are the problem. I hold the firm belief that people are not their problems and instead have relationships with the problems that cause chaos in their lives. I believe that though it may not feel like it within the storm, people are always responding in some way to their problems. We can work together to highlight the moments that the problem would like you to forget about.
I also utilize Gestalt Play Therapy with children and elements of the Gottman Method with couples.
Growing up within a traditional Mexican immigrant family and being a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have experience with how traditional and contemporary cultural norms can clash and wrongfully lead us to believe that we are the problem. I hold the firm belief that people are not their problems and instead have relationships with the problems that cause chaos in their lives. I believe that though it may not feel like it within the storm, people are always responding in some way to their problems. We can work together to highlight the moments that the problem would like you to forget about.
Hi, I'm so glad you're here!
I am a bilingual (English/Spanish) Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, originally from Spain, dedicated to helping individuals, families, teens, and children heal, grow and reconnect. My approach is warm, down-to-earth and rooted in authenticity. I bring empathy, curiosity and deep respect for your unique story to every session.
I tailor my work to meet your individual needs because no two healing journeys are the same. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe, seen and supported as you move toward greater self-understanding and peace.
Hi, I'm so glad you're here!
I am a bilingual (English/Spanish) Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, originally from Spain, dedicated to helping individuals, families, teens, and children heal, grow and reconnect. My approach is warm, down-to-earth and rooted in authenticity. I bring empathy, curiosity and deep respect for your unique story to every session.
I tailor my work to meet your individual needs because no two healing journeys are the same. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe, seen and supported as you move toward greater self-understanding and peace.
Noor is a trilingual (Chaldean, Arabic, English) speaking Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master’s of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliant International University. He has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and families and has special interests and experience treating complex trauma, anxiety, depression, suicidality, self-harm, substance abuse, emotional dysregulation, and grief.
Noor is a trilingual (Chaldean, Arabic, English) speaking Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master’s of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliant International University. He has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and families and has special interests and experience treating complex trauma, anxiety, depression, suicidality, self-harm, substance abuse, emotional dysregulation, and grief.
Hi! I'm Sam Prado (she/her/ella), a bilingual associate therapist dedicated to providing culturally responsive and trauma-informed care to children, adolescents, young adults, and families. I was born in Mexico City and moved to Texas as a teenager, which shaped my understanding of identity development, acculturation, the strength required to navigate significant life transitions, and the importance of advocacy and support in overcoming systemic barriers.
Hi! I'm Sam Prado (she/her/ella), a bilingual associate therapist dedicated to providing culturally responsive and trauma-informed care to children, adolescents, young adults, and families. I was born in Mexico City and moved to Texas as a teenager, which shaped my understanding of identity development, acculturation, the strength required to navigate significant life transitions, and the importance of advocacy and support in overcoming systemic barriers.
At Sierra Family Therapy, we offer a wide range of treatment to provide deep healing and recovery. We offer Individual, Family, Couples, and Child/Adolescent treatment. We work with a variety of issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, dealing with grief, loss, loneliness, interpersonal relationships, trauma work using EMDR/Brainspotting, resolving sexual difficulties, healing childhood wounds, eating disorders, learning effective communication and anger release, overcoming money and power struggles, exploring purpose and meaning in life, and freeing creativity, spontaneity and joy.
At Sierra Family Therapy, we offer a wide range of treatment to provide deep healing and recovery. We offer Individual, Family, Couples, and Child/Adolescent treatment. We work with a variety of issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, dealing with grief, loss, loneliness, interpersonal relationships, trauma work using EMDR/Brainspotting, resolving sexual difficulties, healing childhood wounds, eating disorders, learning effective communication and anger release, overcoming money and power struggles, exploring purpose and meaning in life, and freeing creativity, spontaneity and joy.
Welcome, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in couples therapy and certified in the Gottman Method and trained in the developmental model for couples therapy. I offer compassionate, evidence-based support to help partners feel heard, deepen their connection, and develop the tools needed to navigate conflict, communication, and intimacy. I welcome couples who are ready to work together and strive to create a curious, inclusive environment where partners from diverse backgrounds feel supported in collaboratively identifying and pursuing their relationship goals.
Welcome, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in couples therapy and certified in the Gottman Method and trained in the developmental model for couples therapy. I offer compassionate, evidence-based support to help partners feel heard, deepen their connection, and develop the tools needed to navigate conflict, communication, and intimacy. I welcome couples who are ready to work together and strive to create a curious, inclusive environment where partners from diverse backgrounds feel supported in collaboratively identifying and pursuing their relationship goals.
Therapy Center and Family Counseling Corporation
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
San Diego, CA 92121
We specialize and treat depression, anxiety, trauma, mood disorders, addiction and relationship concerns. We also provide parent training and coaching. Our team specializes in working extensively with adolescents, children, and families in traditional outpatient services. My name is Jamak and I am the Co-Founder of Therapy Center and Family Counseling Corporation. I’m a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 15 years of experience. I specialize in working with individuals, couples, families, and adolescents. I use a humanistic, and culturally sensitive approach to all topics that may be encountered.
We specialize and treat depression, anxiety, trauma, mood disorders, addiction and relationship concerns. We also provide parent training and coaching. Our team specializes in working extensively with adolescents, children, and families in traditional outpatient services. My name is Jamak and I am the Co-Founder of Therapy Center and Family Counseling Corporation. I’m a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 15 years of experience. I specialize in working with individuals, couples, families, and adolescents. I use a humanistic, and culturally sensitive approach to all topics that may be encountered.
Are you feeling stuck? I can help. Raising a family, excelling at your work and maintaining healthy relationships can all be challenging. Sometimes those challenges can result in fulfillment and sometimes they can be so stressful as to make us feel anxious, depressed, sad, angry or uncertain. Therapy can provide perspective and offer new skills to promote positive change. I offer a supportive environment to assist you in working through your life and relationship challenges in order to create more satisfaction and joy in your life. See more details at leslierennick.com.
Are you feeling stuck? I can help. Raising a family, excelling at your work and maintaining healthy relationships can all be challenging. Sometimes those challenges can result in fulfillment and sometimes they can be so stressful as to make us feel anxious, depressed, sad, angry or uncertain. Therapy can provide perspective and offer new skills to promote positive change. I offer a supportive environment to assist you in working through your life and relationship challenges in order to create more satisfaction and joy in your life. See more details at leslierennick.com.
Bryanna Cazares: HOPE Therapy Group
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
2 Endorsed
Online Only
My approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Narrative therapy, and play therapy.
Supervised by Jennifer Whetstone, LMFT 53763. Hi, my name is Bryanna (she/her), I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. I understand that life can throw us in many different directions to a point where we feel lost. My role is to support and help you navigate through stages of life and experiences. I am here to create a safe space and build a trusting therapeutic relationship. By using a systemic lens, we can better identify the areas of your life that need attention and healing. We can work together to strengthen your sense of self and overall quality of life.
My approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Narrative therapy, and play therapy.
Supervised by Jennifer Whetstone, LMFT 53763. Hi, my name is Bryanna (she/her), I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. I understand that life can throw us in many different directions to a point where we feel lost. My role is to support and help you navigate through stages of life and experiences. I am here to create a safe space and build a trusting therapeutic relationship. By using a systemic lens, we can better identify the areas of your life that need attention and healing. We can work together to strengthen your sense of self and overall quality of life.
Hello! My name is Deonna Reese and I am a Licensed Professional Clinica Counselor (LPCC) based in southern California. I am passionate and dedicated to helping individuals navigate their journey to creating a healthy lifestyle and way of living. I work with older adults, adolescents, and couples, specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress.
Hello! My name is Deonna Reese and I am a Licensed Professional Clinica Counselor (LPCC) based in southern California. I am passionate and dedicated to helping individuals navigate their journey to creating a healthy lifestyle and way of living. I work with older adults, adolescents, and couples, specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress.
Are you struggling with panic, worry or trauma? If so, whether large or small, it may cause anxiety. Or maybe you even feel traumatized? This can happen for any situation that causes disturbance to your daily routine, thinking and ability to function to your full potential. Whatever your anxiety or trauma is about, we can help! We are a team of therapists working extensively with anxiety issues. These could be about relationships, life events, or any negative experience. If you are struggling with moving past a traumatic incident, or anxiety, please contact us. We will have one of our therapists contact you soon.
Are you struggling with panic, worry or trauma? If so, whether large or small, it may cause anxiety. Or maybe you even feel traumatized? This can happen for any situation that causes disturbance to your daily routine, thinking and ability to function to your full potential. Whatever your anxiety or trauma is about, we can help! We are a team of therapists working extensively with anxiety issues. These could be about relationships, life events, or any negative experience. If you are struggling with moving past a traumatic incident, or anxiety, please contact us. We will have one of our therapists contact you soon.
Marlee is a dedicated Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) with a passion for helping individuals and couples build stronger, more fulfilling relationships. Marlee specializes in relational healing, guiding clients to deeper emotional connections and healthier patterns of interaction.
Marlee is a dedicated Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) with a passion for helping individuals and couples build stronger, more fulfilling relationships. Marlee specializes in relational healing, guiding clients to deeper emotional connections and healthier patterns of interaction.
My name is Simone Stear Zwipf and I am so excited to partner with you. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist as well as a licensed professional clinical counselor. I believe that therapy should feel empowering and enjoyable. My strength is working with clients to build self-esteem, reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms, process difficult experiences and trauma, help those with substance use disorders, and improve couple and family relationships.
My name is Simone Stear Zwipf and I am so excited to partner with you. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist as well as a licensed professional clinical counselor. I believe that therapy should feel empowering and enjoyable. My strength is working with clients to build self-esteem, reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms, process difficult experiences and trauma, help those with substance use disorders, and improve couple and family relationships.
Starting with a new therapist can be nerve-wracking. Whether you've been in therapy before or this is your first time trying it out, meeting a new clinician can take a lot out of you. My goal when meeting with a new prospective client is to help you figure out if I'm the right therapist for you. In my experience, a big part of improving mental health is advocating for yourself, and I hope that I will enable you to exercise that advocacy with me.
Starting with a new therapist can be nerve-wracking. Whether you've been in therapy before or this is your first time trying it out, meeting a new clinician can take a lot out of you. My goal when meeting with a new prospective client is to help you figure out if I'm the right therapist for you. In my experience, a big part of improving mental health is advocating for yourself, and I hope that I will enable you to exercise that advocacy with me.
Help Therapy | Mental Health Services
Psychologist, PsyD, LCSW, LMFT, NP, PNP
1 Endorsed
San Diego, CA 92103
Help Therapy boasts a network of more than 150 licensed clinical psychologists, LCSWs, LMFTs, and NPs, spanning over 100 specialties and treatment areas. Services we provide including psychotherapy, psychological evaluations and psychiatric services. By completing an intake form on HelpTherapy.com, you'll be paired with a therapist tailored to your specific treatment requirements, insurance coverage, and location preferences. You have the flexibility to choose how you'd like to connect with your provider—whether in-person, online, or via phone.
Help Therapy boasts a network of more than 150 licensed clinical psychologists, LCSWs, LMFTs, and NPs, spanning over 100 specialties and treatment areas. Services we provide including psychotherapy, psychological evaluations and psychiatric services. By completing an intake form on HelpTherapy.com, you'll be paired with a therapist tailored to your specific treatment requirements, insurance coverage, and location preferences. You have the flexibility to choose how you'd like to connect with your provider—whether in-person, online, or via phone.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults experiencing anxiety, depression, emotion regulation issues, social or peer-related difficulties, substance use, and challenges with school and/or family relationships. I also enjoy supporting clients through the significant life transitions associated with adolescence and young adulthood. I strive to create a safe space for my clients that includes collaboration, reflective curiosity, and opportunities for growth, creativity, and humor.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults experiencing anxiety, depression, emotion regulation issues, social or peer-related difficulties, substance use, and challenges with school and/or family relationships. I also enjoy supporting clients through the significant life transitions associated with adolescence and young adulthood. I strive to create a safe space for my clients that includes collaboration, reflective curiosity, and opportunities for growth, creativity, and humor.
I have experience in working at Community-Based outpatient clinics providing individual and group counseling services to children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. I also have worked with the LGBTQ+ community, families, and survivors of abuse. I am a culturally sensitive therapist who acts as an ally and advocate for my clients. I look forward to working alongside you to help you reach your goals through adaptive coping skills/strategies, problem solving skills, mindfulness tools, reframing negative thinking, and shifting maladaptive patterns that no longer serve a purpose.
I have experience in working at Community-Based outpatient clinics providing individual and group counseling services to children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. I also have worked with the LGBTQ+ community, families, and survivors of abuse. I am a culturally sensitive therapist who acts as an ally and advocate for my clients. I look forward to working alongside you to help you reach your goals through adaptive coping skills/strategies, problem solving skills, mindfulness tools, reframing negative thinking, and shifting maladaptive patterns that no longer serve a purpose.
New Constellation Family Therapy
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
4 Endorsed
San Diego, CA 92123
Hi, my name is Travis a therapist at New Constellation Family Therapy Inc. I work with individuals, couples, and families both online and in-person and strive to tailor therapy to your unique goals, identity, and lived experience. I'm LGBTQIA+ and neurodiversity affirming, and I welcome clients from all backgrounds, including trauma survivors, athletes, creatives, and those navigating life transitions or cultural identity exploration. My clinical focus includes attachment-based work, anxiety, panic, trauma, couples and relationship concerns, self-empowerment, identity development.
Hi, my name is Travis a therapist at New Constellation Family Therapy Inc. I work with individuals, couples, and families both online and in-person and strive to tailor therapy to your unique goals, identity, and lived experience. I'm LGBTQIA+ and neurodiversity affirming, and I welcome clients from all backgrounds, including trauma survivors, athletes, creatives, and those navigating life transitions or cultural identity exploration. My clinical focus includes attachment-based work, anxiety, panic, trauma, couples and relationship concerns, self-empowerment, identity development.
Hola! My name is Jocelyn Marin. I’m a bilingual, first-gen with Mexican roots, and a certified domestic violence counselor. I am a compassionate associate social work therapist who is dedicated to providing a safe space for youth, adults and families to grow and heal through counseling.
Hola! My name is Jocelyn Marin. I’m a bilingual, first-gen with Mexican roots, and a certified domestic violence counselor. I am a compassionate associate social work therapist who is dedicated to providing a safe space for youth, adults and families to grow and heal through counseling.
See more therapy options for San Diego
Nearby Play Therapy Searches for San Diego
- Chula Vista
- Coronado
- Del Mar
- El Cajon
- La Jolla
- La Mesa
- Lemon Grove
- National City
- Poway
- Rancho Santa Fe
- Santee
- Solana Beach
Play Therapy
Who is play therapy for?
Play therapy is generally targeted to children between the ages of 3 and 11 who have social, emotional, or behavioral difficulties. Play therapy has also been found helpful for children who have experienced physical or emotional abuse or witnessed atrocities. Play therapy is also often recommended for children who are undergoing major medical procedures or who are suffering from chronic illness; many children’s hospitals are equipped to offer play therapy on-site. Play therapy is also sometimes used for adults; creative writing, music, and art are expressive forms that can all be adapted for therapeutic purposes.
Why do people need play therapy?
Children often do not have the language skills or words to know or to express what is troubling them. Yet they often spontaneously draw or use playthings to depict scenarios that reflect problems in their everyday life. Play therapy provides children with an array of objects and play situations to act out their feelings or experiences so that therapists can get a clear picture of what children might be struggling with and help them find solutions. In addition, play therapists are skilled at helping children understand their inner experience and find words for them, necessary steps toward helping children learn to control their own behavior and come up with solutions to problems they encounter.
What happens in play therapy?
A child enters a comfortable playroom where they are free to choose the objects they want to play with. The play therapist will typically observe how they play with the toys—whether a sandbox, puppets, dolls and action figures, trucks, costumes, drawing and painting materials, or more—because such play provides clues to a child’s family and social relationships, difficulties they are encountering in the world, and what going on inside themselves. Sometimes the therapist may ask the child to use the play objects to tell a story about their family. Using the same instruments of play, therapists can help children discover more advantageous ways of thinking and behaving.
What kinds of problems do play therapists treat?
Play therapy can help children who display destructive or self-destructive impulses; children who seem angry, sad, or fearful; children who experience frequent social, emotional, family, or school difficulty. Play therapy is often of value to children who have experienced a loss or distressing family experience, who are regularly exposed to family conflict, or who have been physically or emotionally abused. Play therapy can help children who are perpetrators of bullying as well as those who are targets of bullying. It helps children learn to identify their feelings, to express them in constructive ways, and to regulate them so they can get on with the business of development.
How long does play therapy last?
Play therapy sessions may last for 30 to 45 minutes, and they usually occur weekly for about 20 sessions. Each session is tailored to the individual child and the kinds of problems they are struggling with. Play that is highly repetitive often indicates a problem requiring further exploration. Therapists typically measure progress through session-to-session changes in play behavior.